Do you want to know how to act on a special date? Don't be nervous—just be the best version of yourself and show interest in your date. And dressing to impress won't hurt either. Just remember that you don't have to act perfect—chances are, your date will be just as nervous as you are! The most important thing is to be yourself and the rest will follow.

Steps

1

Dress to impress. Wear an outfit that makes you feel comfortable and confident. For a casual date, wear something that is slightly nicer than your usual casual clothes. If there is a formal dress code, adhere to that.

Do not dress in something you are uncomfortable in, or something that you would not wear if it was not for this date. You want to be impressive, but still very natural, and look like the real you.

Don't feel like you need to show off a lot of skin. Dress in what makes you comfortable.

2

Consider wearing makeup. You might want to put on some lip gloss or lipstick that matches what you're wearing (unless it's purple, black, or blue), something like brown or red or pink is good. A little mascara and eyeliner doesn't hurt, either.

If you don't have much experience with makeup, keep it minimal. Heavy makeup can look artificial unless it's done by someone who has plenty of practice. Save the experimentation for another day.

3

Be polite. Be kind, considerate, and respectful to your date and everyone else. Avoid criticizing your date or others. Just use the typical advice: Don't say anything you wouldn't say in front of your Grandma.

Ask questions about your date. Many dates involve a back-and-forth: you will ask questions about your date, and they will ask questions about you. Tell as much of your life story as you are asked for and you feel comfortable with, and ask questions about your date so you can get to know them better. Ask about their...

Hobbies

Job, and/or job they want to have

Family

Passions

6

Recognize that some topics are best to avoid. Exes (yours or theirs) do not make good conversation topics. If your date seems uncomfortable about a certain subject, then find a new one that both parties can enjoy discussing.

Some people have bad family lives and don't enjoy talking about it. If this is the case, ask about something else, like their friends.

7

Keep it light. Feel free to tell any stories about your life, and listen to stories they have to tell you. Being a little silly on dates gives you the opportunity to laugh together.

Community Q&A

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What type of questions should you ask him?

wikiHow Contributor

Any that come to mind! Asking questions shows that you care about him, so launch whatever is on your brain. Good starters include: where do you work? what do you do for fun? where are you from? have you been here before?

If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know.

Tips

If you're going to dinner, try to avoid food with a lot of onion or garlic. Nothing is more distracting than bad breath! This is especially true if you're looking for a kiss at the end of the night.

Don't push for a kiss, but if it happens it happens. Remember to keep it short and sweet on a first date. Leave them wanting more.

Smile at him once in a while to show him you're interested in what he is saying.

Don't lie about who you are, especially if you're hoping for a second date. If, for example, you say you love football when you don't, and your date suggests that for your next date you should play football, you could be discovered very quickly!

Do not talk about "touchy subjects" like past relationships, your period, sometimes family can be a subject they don't want to talk about, either. Don't mention older brothers or sisters who were perfect, like was the best sports player, extremely popular, honor roll, etc.

Compliment them on how they look.

It's a good idea to bring breath mints or strips with you. Use one right before the date, and one towards the end, and any in between to keep your breath fresh & minty.

If they compliment you, don't just take it. Compliment them back.

Don't brag. If they compliment something about you, such as perhaps, "Your eyes are so beautiful!", smile and thank him. Perhaps return their compliments with a compliment to them. But do not brag about yourself, talk about things he's good at, and he will probably do the same.

Don't complain about your weight. This is an extreme turn off. You are who you are, and if your date doesn't like it then you probably shouldn't be dating them. You should be proud of your body the way it is.

If you do not like him, or he is being very rude on the date, do not be afraid to tell him no to a second date, or even leave the date early! If you don't want to spend any more time with him, he needs to understand, so don't be afraid to tell him that you're uncomfortable or are disappointed in his behavior, depending on what he is doing to upset you.

Wear clothes appropriate for the location of the date. If you are rock climbing, you won't wear a formal dress or a skirt. You would wear clothes that you can move comfortably in.